2004 HOLIDAY RAMBLER NEPTUNE Complaints

The contact owns a 2004 Holiday Rambler Neptune built on a Roadmaster chassis. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the RV was swaying in the lane and the steering wheel shifted position and was horizontal. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stopped the RV and observed that the rear bumper was almost touching the road surface and the rear passenger side tire was almost touching the wheel well. The contact called an independent mechanic who drove to the location of the RV and examined the RV and determined that the rear suspension and rear axle had fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact had the RV towed to an independent mechanic however, the RV was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V053000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

EMBARKED ON A ROAD TRIP AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 AM AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 4 MILES THE ENTIRE MOTORHOME WENT INTO A VIOLENT AND SEVERE SWAYING MOTION. I SLOWED THE VEH AND PULLED TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, INSPECTED ALL TIRES, NOTHING APPARENT OR OBVIOUS. USED A CREEPER TO INSPECT UNDER VEH SUSPENSION UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM. RESORTED TO INTERNET WITH DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT AND DISCOVERED A POTENTIAL CAUSE. ARMED WITH INFORMATION GARNERED FROM SEVERAL WEB SITES. THE PROBLEM WAS QUICKLY DETECTED. THE LEFT REAR TRAILING ARM WAS CRACKED, COMPLETELY INTO TWO PIECES AT THE U BOLT AREA IN FRONT OF THE AXEL. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS MOTORHOME OVER 24000 MILES AND MAINTAIN IT WELL. OWNING THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS I AM SURPRISED THAT I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. MY PRIOR INTERNET INQUIRIES DONE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE NEVER INDICATED A PROBLEM. APPARENT THIS INFORMATION IS LEFT TO THE OWNER TO FIND OUT ON THEIR OWN AT THE RISK OF PERIL TO ANYONE ON THE HIGHWAY THAT HAPPENED TO BE NEAR AN INCIDENT. *TR

FOUND BOTH REAR TRAILING ARMS TO BE CRACKED UPON INSPECTION. REPLACED BOTH ARMS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. OLD ARMS WERE CRACKED TO A POINT WHERE TOTAL FAILURE WAS EMINENT. *TR

WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES ON VEHICLE THE ALUMINUM RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING WHERE THE CORE IS ATTACHED TO THE TANK. MANUFACTURE HAS SINCE REPLACED ALUMINUM WITH STEEL RADIATORS BUT WOULD NOT AGREE TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE REPLACEMENT SINCE THE WARRANTY TIME HAS EXPIRED. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF MOTOR HOME THAT ARE HAVING LEAKS ALSO. I FEEL THIS IS A TREND AND MAYBE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR INSTALLING FAULTY RADIATORS IN THESE UNITS. RADIATORS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 14,000 MILES. *TR

CONSUMER LETTER REGARDING VEHICLE SAFETY DEFECT SERVICE BULLETIN RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V053000. *MR